Acid washes are ideal for minor discolorations caused by things like leaves falling into the pool. The main benefit of acid washing, during some new finishes application is to remove any haze or cement residue.
The duration of the project depends on pool size and the severity of the interior. On average, the first time performing an acid wash can take two to three full days between draining, cleaning, and refilling the pool.
Although acid washing older plaster pools can be helpful to remove stains and scale, and restore the original appearance; that process, unfortunately, will make the surface more porous and prone to future streaking, blotchiness, and staining over time.
More than just a surface clean, an acid wash actually strips a thin layer of plaster off the surface of the pool. Along with the plaster layer, stains left by chlorine, algae, minerals, and just plain dirt are removed, exposing a fresh, clean layer of plaster underneath.
Average pool acid wash cost is $202, cost ranges between $178 to $225 for a pool measuring 500 square feet, according to Improvenet.com in the US in 2020. Of course, prices will vary based on location, size of the pool and the time of the year.
If you regularly clean your pool and keep it in good shape, chances are you will only need to acid wash your swimming pool every 5-7 years. Because acid washing uses harsh chemicals, it is not recommended to get your pool acid washed more frequently than that, as the harsh chemical used can damage your pool's surface.
While acid washing can dramatically reduce stains or remove spots from a pool's surface, It can shorten the lifespan of plaster finishes. Muriatic Acid, the chemical commonly used is dangerous and corrosive, so the application should be done by a professional.
In a nutshell, a no-drain acid wash is lowering the pH level of your pool so that your pool water becomes acidic and alkalinity close to zero. When this level is hit, some vigorous scrubbing will be required to peel off a bit of the pool surface, essentially giving you an acid wash without draining the pool.
Yes, you can. Remember, acid washing pebble is the most aggressive cleaning process available. It involves completely draining your pool and then pouring or spraying hydrochloric acid and water on the pool surface. Often, this process is repeated several times to remove the stains.
Using large, single doses of hydrochloric (muriatic) acid to adjust pH or total alkalinity levels can also damage vinyl liners. Because it is not sufficiently blended with pool water, the acid can chemically attack the liner's printed pattern.
Because of the Valley's hard water and high summer pool evaporation, we recommended you drain and acid wash your pool every two to four years to help remove excess calcium, algae and other contaminates that may lead to interior pool staining and that unsightly white ring on your pool tile and pebble-tec surface.
Along with balancing the pH levels of your pool water, muriatic acid is strong enough to kill mold, remove rust stains, get rid of calcium deposits, and clean the surfaces of your pool.
Your pool professional will make the call on whether a repair warrants draining the pool. Finally, most pools should be drained and refilled about once every 5-7 years, or when the total dissolved solids (TDS) reaches over 2500 ppm. When this happens, it will become difficult to balance your pool water.
Remove Pool Stains
The easiest stains to remove are organic stains. Shocking or super-chlorinating your pool is effective at getting rid of these types of stains.
Phosphoric acid is a good substitute for muriatic acid and in most situations will clean surfaces just as well with less risk. Phosphoric acid is a main ingredient in many commercial grout and concrete cleaners that are readily available to consumers.
Apply Soap
You'll be pressure washing the Pebble Tec pool on very low pressure, so you'll need to use soap to loosen up the dirt before you start. You can use simple dishwashing soap if you like. Or, you can use muriatic acid for a more powerful clean.
Muriatic acid is one of the names for hydrochloric acid, a corrosive strong acid. It is also known as spirits of salt or acidum salis. "Muriatic" means "pertaining to brine or salt". The chemical formula for muriatic acid is HCl.
Pebble Tec Pools
An Acid wash consists of a mixture of water and muriatic acid. The acid makes contact with the pools surface and gently removes a small layer, revealing a fresh layer of plaster underneath. This type of cleaning is intense and best-suited for removing tough surface stains from plaster and Pebble Tec.
A level of less than 25 ppm combined with a pH level of less than 7.0 can cause the liner to form wrinkles. Avoid using hydrochloric (muriatic) acid for pH adjustment because it will chemically attack the liner's print pattern.
Stains that appear reddish brown or very dark are typically related to metals in your pool water. The metals that commonly cause pool stains are iron, manganese & copper. Copper is from ionizers and corrosion of copper and brass pipes.